Lithuanian parliament considering adoption of Magnitsky Act

The Seimas is considering the Lithuanian version of the famous Magnitsky Act, according to which certain Russian citizens may be denied entry to the country for 5 years.

Vilnius does not intend to disclose the names of the would-be blacklisted.

It is the Russian state officials suspected of large-scale corruption, money laundering and human rights abuse who may be sanctioned by Lithuania. In addition to the national database, such persons will be included in the EU sanctions list, particularly in the list of the European Free Trade Association.

Gabrielis Landsbergis, the leader of Conservatives and a co-sponsor of the act, said that they took into account the work of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky when drafting the new law.

Mr Magnitsky died in prison in 2009 – allegedly after beatings – but Russia dropped an investigation into his death. His case cast a spotlight on corruption in Russia. The Magnitsky Act is a bill passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Obama in 2012, intending to punish Russian officials responsible for the death. The act barred them from entering the United States or using its banking system.

Later, the United States imposed sanctions on a bigger group of Russian officials allegedly involved in corrupt practices and breach of human rights. At the moment, there are about 60 names on the list.